The Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance, on behalf of Canada's seafood farmers, is pleased to share with you a copy of its letter to federal, provincial and territorial ministers of agriculture and aquaculture in advance of their respective summer meetings. 

The letter was submitted to the ministers on July 11, 2024 and reminds that aquaculture is agriculture while calling for management changes so the aquaculture sector in Canada has a pathway forward, away from stagnation and into sustainable growth to the benefit of so many communities across Canada.  

Read Full Letter Here

We are private sector supply companies to the aquaculture sector, including companies developing “closed containment” technologies.

We are very concerned about the federal government’s objective announced today of “no more open net pens in BC coastal waters by 2029.” What has been announced today does not meet the government’s commitment to a “responsible” plan as it will negatively impact thousands of Canadians.

Our sector supports thousands of skilled BC workers, including the youngest agri-food workforce in Canada. Our workers only a few years ago were called “essential” for Canada by your government.

There are over 1000 distinct supply companies involved in BC salmon farming. Many of these also service Atlantic Canada and rely on a strong sector to grow Canadian jobs across Canada. BC’s historically largest agricultural export touches so many people’s lives: farming and food production, including food retail and service, health companies, food banks, food processors, local auto dealers, feed manufacturers, and grain growers, just to name a few.  Canadian salmon feed companies purchase close to $150 million annually from Canadian grain and protein suppliers, supporting a circular economy with the potential for significant value-added growth.

It is critical that current net pen farms remain because of the foundational supply chain infrastructure and investment ecosystem that they support. The success of introducing innovative technologies in British Columbia relies on this investment and supply ecosystem being strong, stable and predictable. The absence of certainty and clarity has already weakened capital investment. Further closures could jeopardize the viability of the current production and supply chain, which will also jeopardize industry’s investment in our technologies in British Columbia.

A responsible path will work towards improvement in the current net pen sector while also building and developing new technologies. This will take time and needs a reasonable incremental approach. This policy announced today must be revisited and we call on all British Columbians and Canadians to support us in calling for this government to choose a balanced pathway.

• Brian Bosien, General Manager, AKVA Group, St John’s, NL

• Marina Gaiga, Owner, Alberni Island Shuttle, Port Alberni, BC

• Samuel B. Cook, Owner, Albert Bay Towing Ltd., Albert Bay, BC

• Ryan Brush, General Manager, Aquatrans Distributors, Delta, BC

• Bob Courage, Sales & Service Representative, BAADER, St. John’s, NL

• Jason Collins, Sales & Technical Manager, NA, Benchmark Genetics, Portland, ME

• Joseph Starcevic, Owner, Blue Continent Transportation, Surrey, BC

• David Dzisiak, Chief Operating Officer, Botaneco, Calgary, AB

• Stephen Hall, COO, Browns Bay Packing Company, Campbell River, BC

• Jeff Scott, President and CEO, Coastal Pacific Xpress Inc., Surrey, BC

• Cody Warner, Director, Sales & Marketing, Deep Trekker, Kitchener, ON

• Nicole Blanchard, COO & Aqua Director, EVAH Corp., Montreal, QC

• Justin Henry, Owner, Henry Aquaculture Consult Inc, North Vancouver, BC

• Scott Dunn, Owner, Intercoastal Tug & Barge Services, Campbell River, BC

• John Holder, President, JLH Consulting Inc., Courtenay, BC

• Doren Anderson, General Manager, Morenot Canada, Campbell River, BC

• Amir Boloar, President and CEO, Northwest Plastics, Port Coquitlam, BC

• Michael Ness, Aquaculture Technical Support and Account Manager—Canada West, Pharmaq, Oslo, Norway

• Jamie Gaskill, CEO, Poseidon Ocean Systems, Campbell River, BC

• Suzie Read, General Manager, ScaleAQ, Campbell River, BC

• Trevor Stanley, Managing Director North America, Skretting Canada Inc., Vancouver, BC

• John Arne Breivik, General Manager, Stingray Marine Solutions AS, Oslo, Norway

• Ravi Jouhal, General Manager, Sure Cold Refrigerated Storage, Surrey, BC

• Bradley Hicks, Partner, Taplow Ventures, North Vancouver, BC

Contact:

Ryan Brush at Aquatrans Distributors

ryan.brush@aquatrans.ca

A Responsible Plan for BC Salmon Farming

Today, the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance and the Canadian Federation of Agriculture have sent a letter (see link below) to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urging them to choose the responsible path to ensure a vital and world-leading British Columbia salmon farming sector.

Joint Letter: A Responsible Plan for BC Salmon Farming 

At a time of many challenges, especially regarding access to healthy, home-grown and affordable food, a top concern of Canadians, supporting the future of an innovative and modern BC salmon farming sector and its thousands of workers is the responsible pathway.

Ottawa, ON - The Fisheries Council of Canada (FCC) and the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) applaud the Canada’s Ocean Supercluster’s (OSC) Sustainable Seafood Call for Proposals that was launched yesterday, February 27, 2024.

The OSC indicates its seafood call for proposals is to support development and adoption of sustainable seafood in the ocean sector and provide incremental investment into sustainable seafood solutions aligned with the goals of Ambition 2035. It is worth noting that Ambition 2035 was informed by the Blue Economy joint vision by FCC and CAIA which aspires Canada to be in the top 3 best quality and sustainable seafood producers by 2040.

Both FCC and CAIA are highlighting the innovation efforts in their respective sub-sectors. FCC published its Innovation Storyboard last fall while CAIA has recently hosted innovation showcases in Ottawa featuring emerging technologies in salmon farming.

The Sustainable Seafood 2024 call will support innovations across a broad range of sector operations and deliver new value creation opportunities for Canada’s seafood sector.

In response, FCC President, Paul Lansbergen said, “This call will advance innovations like those highlighted in our recent Innovation Storyboard. We have the longest coastline in the world. We have among the brightest minds. Now the Supercluster has a program focused on putting the two together.”

“Canadian aquaculture companies have for a long time been investing in enhancing their processes, to world-leading levels,” said Timothy Kennedy, CAIA President & CEO. He continued, “This call for proposals will encourage the development and adoption of new innovations that will continuously improve environmental performance while growing jobs, improving Canada’s food security, and ensuring healthy communities.”

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The Fisheries Council of Canada (FCC) is the voice of Canada’s wild capture fish and seafood industry, promoting a healthy resource and prosperous industry playing a vital role in the Canadian economy. Our members include small, medium and larger-sized companies along with Indigenous enterprises that harvest and process fish from Canada's three oceans.

Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) is the national association that speaks for Canada’s seafood farmers, representing their interests in Ottawa and internationally. CAIA members generate over $6 billion in economic activity, $2.45 billion in GDP, and employ over 25,000 Canadians delivering a healthy, growing and sustainable seafood farming sector in Canada.

For more information or to set up an interview please contact:

Dana Bulloch, Associate, Porter O’Brien, dana@porterobrien.com

Sheri Beaulieu, Marketing & Communications Manager, CAIA, sheri.beaulieu@aquaculture.ca

Ottawa, ON - The Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) today released its Submission for the 2023 Pre-Budget Consultations. This is tabled just after the devastation wreaked by Storm Fiona and its aftermath, which highlights the importance of several vital requests to aid seafood farmers’ recovery. 

Early estimates are that shellfish farmers in PEI have at minimum $50M in damages. Almost all these marine farmers are small and medium-sized businesses who cannot access private insurance for crop loss and disasters, while land farmers have access to government cost-sharing programs to support them.  

“Food security and inflation are the top concerns of Canadians, and we have a massive opportunity to grow healthy, sustainable seafood in Canada through aquaculture. However, our sector growth has flatlined for two decades, in large part because of a lack of will at the federal level. An event like Fiona sets us back, but also brings to attention the lack of consistent, national programs for seafood farmers to succeed,” says Timothy Kennedy, President & CEO. 

“We appreciate the Prime Minister’s commitment of $300M for Fiona recovery, but the federal government must build the proper system of long-term supports to grow the seafood farming sector in Canada.”  

The CAIA Budget 2023 requests show the path forward. This includes:

1. That DFO focus on science and regulation and build its reputation as a world-class regulator, while responsibility for sector development and sustainable growth be formally moved to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada;

2. That a pilot program for shellfish farmers for Business Risk Management (BRM) (such as crop and disaster insurance programs) must be created, as those offered to land farmers; and

3. That the federal program that oversees shellfish must be properly funded after 20 years of funding flatline. 

Canada’s seafood farming sector is poised to advance Canada’s objectives of domestic and sustainable food supply and security; reduce carbon emissions; grow employment and economic opportunity in rural, coastal and Indigenous communities; and capitalize on the opportunity to expand our blue economy. With the right policy and market signals, Canada’s sustainable aquaculture sector is ready to be a major contributor to Canada’s present and future health and wellbeing. 

About Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance

Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) is the national association that speaks for Canada’s seafood farmers, representing their interests in Ottawa and internationally to regulators, policy makers and political leaders. CAIA members generate over $5 billion in economic activity, $2 billion in GDP, and employ over 20,000 Canadians delivering a healthy, growing and sustainable seafood farming sector in Canada. For more information, please visit www.aquaculture.ca.

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Sheri Beaulieu

Manager of Marketing and Communications

Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance

Tel: 613-853-0612

Email: sheri.beaulieu@aquaculture.ca

OTTAWA, ON – During its annual meeting held September 28-29, 2022, the members of the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) elected new officers, two new Executive Committee members and two new Board members.

Ian Roberts, Director of Communications (Scotland, Ireland, Canada) at Mowi, will serve as the new Chair of the CAIA Board of Directors, succeeding Jennifer Woodland of Nuu-chah-nulth Seafood Limited Partnership who stepped down after almost three years and now serves as Past Chair. 

“The seafood farming community in Canada is focused and resilient. We are the seafood growth pathway for Canada with many coastal communities looking to grow sustainable foods and economic opportunities. With positive support from our communities and governments, Canada can realize this great sustainable, healthy and secure food opportunity for Canada,” says Roberts.

Outgoing Chair Jennifer Woodland says, “This sector has incredible potential for Canada. Low-carbon, innovative sustainable and secure food production, great jobs in coastal communities in all ten provinces and one territory, Indigenous partnership, economic opportunity and leadership. With deepened collaboration and united together we will continue our work to realize this sector’s great future in Canada.”

Additionally, Amédée Savoie, La Maison BeauSoleil and Cyrus Singh, k'awat'si Development Corporation were newly elected to the Executive Committee while four others were re-elected including: Joel Richardson, Cooke Aquaculture Inc. (Vice-Chair), Cyr Couturier, Marine Institute, Memorial University of Newfoundland (Treasurer), Mia Parker, Mowi Canada West (Secretary) and Linda Sams, Cermaq Canada.

CAIA President & CEO, Timothy Kennedy says, “We’re very pleased to welcome these new and returning members to our national Board of Directors and leadership. Together, they represent producers, suppliers and regional associations from across Canada – united in their passion for the sustainable growth of seafood farming.”

“In particular, I’d like to recognize Larry Johnson, President of Nuu-chah-nulth Seafood Limited Partnership and Co-Chair of the CAIA Indigenous Partners Network, and also Cyrus Singh, CEO of the K’awat’si Development Corporation. We’re very pleased to have two leaders from Indigenous-owned seafood businesses elected to the Board, and that they will lend their voices and talents to developing the national aquaculture discussion,” noted Kennedy.

  Four new CAIA Board members were also elected:

·         Larry Johnson, Nuu-chah-nulth Seafood Limited Partnership (BC)

·         Cyrus Singh, k'awat'si Development Corporation (BC)

·         Jeff MacPherson, Atlantic Aqua Farms Ltd. (PEI)

·         Jennifer Wiper, Aquaculture Association of Canada (NB)

15 Board Members were also re-elected

·         Jamie Baker, Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association (NL)

·         Bill Collins, Cascadia Seaweed (BC)

·         Todd Cook, Elanco Canada Limited (BC)

·         Brad Hicks, Taplow Feeds (BC)

·         Amy Jonsson, Grieg Seafood BC Ltd. (BC)

·         Rich Moccia, Aquaculture Centre, University of Guelph (ON)

·         Stephanie Quah, Cargill Canada (BC)

·         John Rose, Icy Waters Ltd. (ON/YK)

·         Tim Rundle, Creative Salmon Co. Ltd. (BC)

·         Ruth Salmon, BC Salmon Farmers Association (BC)

·         TBD, Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia (NS)

·         Trevor Stanley, Skretting Canada Inc. (BC)

·         RJ Taylor, Ontario Aquaculture Association (ON)

·         Peter Warris, PEI Aquaculture Alliance (PEI)

·         Brian Yip, Fanny Bay Oysters (BC)

“I’d like to specially thank our outgoing Chair, Jennifer Woodland and outgoing Treasurer, John Rose of Icy Waters Ltd, for their service to CAIA over the past number of years. These talented experts in Canada’s aquaculture landscape have been instrumental in shaping the future of this organization,” said Kennedy.

For a complete list of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance, visit: https://www.aquaculture.ca/board-of-directors-index.

About Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance

Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) is the national association that speaks for Canada’s seafood farmers, representing their interests in Ottawa and internationally to regulators, policy makers and political leaders. CAIA members generate over $5 billion in economic activity, 2 billion in GDP, and employ over 20,000 Canadians delivering a healthy, growing and sustainable seafood farming sector in Canada. For more information, please visit www.aquaculture.ca.

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Sheri Beaulieu

Manager of Marketing and Communications

Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance

Tel: 613-853-0612

Email: sheri.beaulieu@aquaculture.ca

New food campaign promotes Canadian Seafood as smart choice for healthy, everyday meals

OTTAWA, ON, May 25—The Choose Canadian Seafood Task Force, a program led by the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) and The Fisheries Council of Canada (FCC) today announced the launch of a new, national awareness campaign aimed at encouraging consumers to choose Canadian seafood more often.

This campaign is noteworthy in light of how the pandemic and geopolitical events are impacting global food supply chains with disruptions and rising food prices.

“Only 30 per cent of seafood consumed in Canada is actually Canadian,” said Timothy Kennedy, President & CEO, CAIA. “By choosing Canadian seafood, we can enjoy a secure, sustainable, domestic food supply from our oceans that is good for you and good for the planet. It’s smart to choose Canadian Seafood.”

The Smarter Meals Out of the Blue awareness campaign launches today along with a new logo and a new website (www.ChooseSeafood.ca), which features helpful tips and family-friendly recipes. The campaign also inspires Canadians to shake up their everyday meal routines with unexpected ideas, like swapping in shrimp or fish for ‘Taco Tuesdays’.

“There are so many smart reasons to choose Canadian seafood,” said Paul Lansbergen, President, FCC. “It’s an affordable, easy, healthy, sustainable and delicious choice for any meal, any day of the week.”

In fact, Canadian seafood is a complete protein source, contains all essential amino acids for overall health, and omega-3 fatty acids for brain health. And, it’s more affordable than you think.

Canada’s seafood production is amongst the most sustainable in the world, with one of the lowest carbon footprints for proteins you can choose. Seafood is a critical future food for your health and for our planet.

This project is funded via the Canadian Fish and Seafood Opportunities Fund (CFSOF). You can learn more about the CFSOF here.

Visit www.ChooseSeafood.ca for more information.

About the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA)

The Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) is the national association that speaks for Canada’s seafood farmers, representing their interests in Ottawa to regulators, policy makers and political leaders. With a membership that reaches coast to coast to coast, comprised of finfish, shellfish and aquatic plant farmers, feed companies and suppliers, as well as regional aquaculture associations, CAIA is a passionate advocate for the quality and sustainability of farmed seafood. For more information visit: www.aquaculture.ca.

About The Fisheries Council of Canada

The Fisheries Council of Canada (FCC) is the voice of Canada’s wild capture fish and seafood industry, promoting a healthy resource and prosperous industry playing a vital role in the Canadian economy. Our members include small, medium and larger-sized companies along with Indigenous enterprises that harvest and process fish from Canada's three oceans. For more information, visit: www.fisheries council.ca. 

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MEDIA: For more information or to book an interview please contact: Saskia Brussaard,

Seafood recipes, recipe photos available upon request

OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian seafood industry, represented by a partnership of the national associations representing wild and farmed seafood, is urging quick action to secure affordable Canadian food, jobs in rural and coastal communities, and a domestic food supply of low-carbon, healthy seafood.

Responding to the release of the federal government’s “Blue Economy Strategy: What We Heard” report, Paul Lansbergen, President of the Fisheries Council of Canada, and Timothy Kennedy, President & CEO of the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance, jointly issued the following statement: 

“Canada's wild and farmed seafood sectors represent secure, stable jobs, and are a proven, low-carbon solution to feeding Canadian families and global markets with Canadian seafood. 

“Canada's sustainable seafood sector needs the same kind of policy support that we see for our domestic agriculture sector.  We need a pragmatic, federal vision to grow the sector and drive innovation and investment in this key blue economy opportunity for rural, coastal and Indigenous communities. A rigorous, science-based approach to sustainability and a commitment to job creation and economic growth is necessary. We are happy to see some of our recommendations included in this report, such as the need for a federal champion and a growth plan with targets, but what is missing is a pathway to identify the next steps, clarify the priority areas, and focus on the economic opportunity before us. 

“Canada has the greatest potential in the world to grow our seafood sector. The seafood sector is the core of the Blue Economy with close to 100,000 jobs. Throughout the COVID period, Canadian seafood producers were identified as ‘essential workers’ and continued to deliver seafood to Canadians. Now with further global instability, we need to move quickly on this essential food opportunity and capitalize on growing the value of the sector. Our vision and action plan can help move to the next level of job creation and secure healthy and sustainable food for Canadians and the world.” 

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The Fisheries Council of Canada (FCC) is the voice of Canada’s wild capture fish and seafood industry, promoting a healthy resource and prosperous industry playing a vital role in the Canadian economy. Our members include small, medium and larger-sized companies along with Indigenous enterprises that harvest and process fish from Canada's three oceans.

 Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) is the national association that speaks for Canada’s seafood farmers, representing their interests in Ottawa and internationally. CAIA members generate over $5.2 billion in economic activity, $2.1 billion in GDP, and employ over 21,000 Canadians delivering a healthy, growing and sustainable seafood farming sector in Canada.

For more information or to set up an interview please contact:

Kelly McCarthy, Manager, Communications, FCC: kmccarthy@fisheriescouncil.org

Sheri Beaulieu, Marketing & Communications Manager, CAIA: sheri.beaulieu@aquaculture.ca

Canadian agri-food production leaders unite to celebrate achievements and commit to continue to advance Canada’s leadership role in the production of safe, sustainable and nutritious food ahead of the United Nations Food Systems Summit

OTTAWA, ON: The United Nations Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) taking place on September 23, 2021 is a critical dialogue for people around the world to ensure the future of sustainable food systems and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. The signatories to this statement, Canadian farmers, ranchers, input providers and food and beverage producers, play an important role in shaping the future of our national and global food systems and advancing global goals.

The UNFSS has given our Canadian Agri-Food sector the opportunity to reflect and celebrate our shared advancements and achievements in sustainability, innovation, and the production of safe and nutritious food. We are proud to be feeding Canada and the world, and we recognize that continual advances are critical to creating a more sustainable future and one that Canada will play a leadership role in. The UNFSS provides the platform to look forward and together chart an inclusive, multi-stakeholder and systems approach for the future of food.

Through science, effective policy and programs, governance, and application of best management practices, Canadian farmers, ranchers, input providers and food and beverage producers are committed to advancing safe, secure, nutritious and sustainable food systems through the following:

• Climate Smart Solutions. Investing in and advocating for innovation, research, and strategic and collaborative goal setting and action plans in relation to climate change mitigation, adaptation and resiliency.

• Farmers & Ranchers of the Future. Providing pragmatic, solution-oriented ideas, strategies and practices to ensure food production is economically viable, diverse, and a meaningful place to work for the current and the next generation. Supporting the next generation of farmers through mentorships and new entrant programs, and making it easier for young farmers to invest in their future.

• Reducing Food Loss and Waste. Continually evaluating food loss and waste along the value chain, and investing in and providing innovative solutions for the future.

• Sustainable Agriculture and Production Practices. Employing practices that advance nature positive agriculture, respect our planetary boundaries and further enhance our environmental contributions while ensuring farmers remain profitable.

• Collaborative Approaches. Recognizing the interconnectivity of agriculture systems and the strength brought forward by diverse perspectives, we commit to continued conversations on how to continually improve the Canadian food system.

• Resilient Food Systems. Increasing the resiliency of our food systems to ensure a continual supply of safe, affordable food, to maintain strong rural, coastal, urban and indigenous communities, and to strengthen food system actors’ ability to withstand external shocks such as COVID-19 and extreme weather events.

• Safe and Affordable Food. Sharing of best food safety and animal care practices and investing in and adopting of innovations that enhance productivity as we work with communities towards achieving zero hunger and food security for all.

• Innovation as a Lever of Change. Embracing a science-based approach to solving the challenges faced by our food systems, recognizing that innovation and technology have the power to deliver the transformative change needed to realize a resilient and accessible food system.

• Diverse Food Systems. Recognizing that diverse domestic and global food systems are resilient food systems, build on the integrated circular economy within food systems that recognize the true value of food.

Quotes

“Agriculture has an amazing capacity to contribute to climate change solutions, in Canada many of our agriculture products including beef have half the GHG footprint in comparison to our global partners. That’s because we have strategically invested for generations in research, innovation and the application of these practices through the supply chain. We have to share what we have achieved but also strive to do more.”

- Bob Lowe, President, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association

“The UNFSS gives us the opportunity to reflect on our achievements as Canadian growers and farmers but also to reflect on where we want to go. I am inspired by the goals set by many of the agriculture associations and individual businesses, I have no doubt that agriculture and agri-food have the solutions to many of our biggest challenges.”

- Jan VanderHout, President, Canadian Horticultural Council

“Canadian agriculture has incredible potential as a natural climate solutions provider, and our sector has been making impressive strides for decades in terms of our GHG footprint relative to our productivity. The UNFFS allows Canada and the world to share its successes and work together to accomplish even more on this critically important front. We hope to see the Canadian government, and governments around the world recognize and harness the immense potential that our sector represents.”

- Mary Robinson, President, Canadian Federation of Agriculture

“Canola farmers have exhibited their commitment to stewarding the land. Through the adoption of innovations, they have reduced their environmental footprint increasing land use efficiency, reducing fossil fuels and sequestering greenhouse gases. We look forward to continually building on these practices to foster a more resilient food system and to be a partner in finding solutions to climate challenges. ”

- Rick White, President & CEO, Canadian Canola Growers Association and Vice-Chair, Food Systems Champion Network

“Canadian agriculture is already hard at work to reduce emissions and address climate change through initiatives like the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef. Across all sectors of agriculture, sustainability is a priority in how we do business today and, how we will drive our industry forward.”

- Janice Tranberg, President and CEO, National Cattle Feeders’ Association

“For Canadian chicken farmers, sustainability means protecting animal health and welfare, ensuring worker and community wellbeing, preserving the health of the land and of Canadian farms and contributing to the Canadian economy by providing affordable food to Canadians.”

- Benoît Fontaine, Chair, Chicken Farmers of Canada

“Through our audited Animal Care and Hatching Egg Quality programs the Canadian Hatching Egg Producers are global leaders in on farm food safety and animal care. We continue to explore and advance constructive realistic solutions that contribute to a resilient Canadian food system.”

- Brian Bilkes, Chair, Canadian Hatching Egg Producers

“Blue foods – especially farm-raised seafood – are a burgeoning component to meet the world’s demand for healthy and low-carbon proteins. Our commitment to producing the best quality farm-raised seafood in the world is backed up by leading international certification and forward-looking sustainability commitments. Canada’s seafood farmers stand with the Canadian food community in our dedication to excellence.”

- Timothy Kennedy, President & CEO, Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance

“As a key agricultural input, quality seed and varieties adapted to the challenges we face today are a vital resource. The seed industry can help farmers adapt to climate change by developing crops that are more resistant to drought and other symptoms of a changing climate. Plant breeding innovations can help reduce agricultural emissions by breeding crops that better capture carbon, for example, by developing plants with extensive root systems. Improved varieties allow producers to grow more with less and lead to a smaller environmental footprint.”

- Ellen Sparry, President, Seeds Canada

“Canadian agriculture has made incredible strides over the last 50 years – feeding more people, more sustainably than ever before. This is in no small part due to farmers’ adoption of innovative new tools and technologies that allow them to do more with less. Guided by science and innovation Canadian agriculture will continue in the years and decades ahead as an economic force in this country while also delivering important solutions to the challenges posed by climate change.”

- Pierre Petelle, President and CEO, CropLife Canada

“Canada has the opportunity to become a world leader in reducing greenhouse gas emissions on farms by helping growers become climate-smart. We believe that proactive efforts made by Canada’s fertilizer industry in 4R Nutrient Stewardship will not only support this transition but will help position the Canada with a leading example on the international stage in climate change adaptation, resilience and mitigation.”

- Karen Proud, President & CEO, Fertilizer Canada

“As stewards of the land, dairy farmers from coast-to-coast have always been world leaders in sustainability and are committed to remaining so in the future. The resilience of our food system is critical to ensuring food security for all Canadians. We endeavour to provide Canadians with a steady supply of high-quality nutritious milk, produced in accordance with the highest standards in the world.”

- Pierre Lampron, President, Dairy Farmers of Canada

“Canadian egg farmers are true stewards of the land. We are committed to building healthy communities, a greener environment and are leaders in best practices. Through the research and adoption of new technologies, our farmers have drastically reduced their environmental footprint while increasing production. Building more sustainable and resilient food systems is the way of the future, and Egg farmers will continue to be global leaders in innovation and combatting climate change.”

- Roger Pelissero, President, Egg Farmers of Canada

Canadian Agri-Food Fast Facts

• Canada’s agriculture and agri-food is a major contributor to the Canadian economy responsible for one in eight Canadian jobs and over seven percent of Canadian GDP (2018).

• Thanks to innovative best practices and technologies, agricultural production in Canada has doubled over the last 22 years while emissions have remained relatively stable. • Canada is home to the first certified sustainable beef program in the world, the Canadian beef industry has a goal of increasing carbon sequestration in grasslands by 3.4 million tonnes per year by 2030. Beef cattle also upcycle food that would otherwise be wasted, such as fruits and vegetables that are no longer suitable for grocery stores, grain by products, and more.

• Turkey farmers reinvest in their farms and industries by way of world-leading research, innovation, food safety, and bird care. Improvements to feed efficiency over 40 years are reducing the carbon footprint of turkey production. Now, 33 per cent less feed is needed for every pound of turkey meat produced. This is the direct results of improvements along the supply chain, such as improved feeding programs, selective breeding and on-farm management programs. • In the last 40 years, the carbon footprint of the Canadian chicken sector was reduced by 37 per cent, and water consumption has been reduced by 45 per cent. • 62 per cent of the Canadian chicken sector’s total energy use comes from renewable sources, with chicken feed accounting for the bulk of renewable energy consumption.

• Canada’s seed industry is continually innovating towards increased sustainability. Technologies like gene editing can help plants capture and store more carbon, reducing excess carbon emissions by up to 46 per cent.

• Without crop protection products and plant breeding innovations Canadian farmers would need 44 per cent more land to produce what they do today (that’s roughly the size of all the Maritime provinces combined).

• Over a 30-year period, agricultural soils went from being a minor source of emissions, at 1.1 million tonnes in 1981, to being a significant sink and absorbing 11.9 million tonnes from the atmosphere in 2011.

• Nutrient use efficiency on Canadian farms exceeds the world average and ranges between 66 per cent and 78 per cent. Canada is accomplishing this while also increasing productivity as a net positive contributor to world food security helping to meet the UN SDG #2 Zero Hunger goal.

• Canola fields provide habitat for over 2,000 beneficial insects, including native pollinators, honeybees, spiders and beetles.

• Canada’s major ocean-farmed salmon production is 100 per cent certified to global sustainability standards, and Canada’s seafood farming sector uses only 1 per cent of viable coastal area.

• Among the lowest carbon footprints for dairy in the world: producing one litre of milk in Canada emits less than 1/2 the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as compared to the global average.

• Over the past 50 years, Canadian egg production has increased by 50 per cent, while the industry’s environmental footprint decreased by almost 50 per cent.

Learn more about Canadian Agriculture Sustainability Actions/Plans/Benchmarks

Canadian Beef Industry Goals

Canola’s Sustainable Future

Canadian Agri-Food Sustainability Initiative

The Chicken Industry Life Cycle Assessment

Canadian Produce Sustainability

Responsible Seafood Farmers

Manage Resistance Now

Fertilizer Canada Strategic Plan

Dairy Farmers of Canada

Egg Farmers of Canada

For further information, contact: Tammy Melesko Communications Manager Canadian Cattlemen’s Association 403-451-0931| meleskot@cattle.ca

OTTAWA, ON: Seafood is major jobs, low carbon, food security and sustainable Blue Economy opportunity for Canada. As the federal government continues consultations to develop its national Blue Economy Strategy, the fish and seafood industry is looking for Canadians who believe seafood is part of the future of economic growth for our country.

The Fisheries Council of Canada (FCC) and the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) are seeking support from Canadians who agree that seafood has a role to play in providing jobs, growing the national economy and revitalizing coastal and Indigenous communities. By gathering support though pledge signatures, FCC and CAIA will be able to demonstrate to the federal government how important it is to Canadians to restore our place as a global leader in sustainable seafood production.

“We are asking Canadians to stand with our national fish and seafood community as we call on the federal government to identify a federal departmental champion, develop a sustainable growth plan and develop an integrated program to advance the sector,” said Paul Lansbergen, President, FCC. “If you believe in sustainable seafood development, sign the pledge.”

“Canada has the longest coastline in the world and some of the most plentiful freshwater resources,” said Timothy Kennedy, President and CEO, CAIA. “We have the means to be a global leader in sustainable seafood production – all we’re missing is the proper support.”

Signing the pledge is as simple as visiting seafoodopportunity.ca/take-the-pledge and filling in your name and email. Signatures will be gathered as an aggregate to demonstrate support in FCC and CAIA’s ongoing advocacy to include their industry-developed vision and action plan, Canada’s Blue Economy 2040, into the federal Blue Economy Strategy.

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The Fisheries Council of Canada (FCC) is the voice of Canada’s wild capture fish and seafood industry, promoting a healthy resource and prosperous industry playing a vital role in the Canadian economy. Our members include small, medium and larger-sized companies along with Indigenous enterprises that harvest and process fish from Canada's three oceans.

Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) is the national association that speaks for Canada’s seafood farmers, representing their interests in Ottawa and internationally. CAIA members generate over $5.2 billion in economic activity, $2.1 billion in GDP, and employ over 21,300 Canadians delivering a healthy, growing and sustainable seafood farming sector in Canada.

For more information or to set up an interview please contact:

Kelly McCarthy, Manager, Communications, FCC: kmccarthy@fisheriescouncil.org

Sheri Beaulieu, Marketing & Communications Manager, CAIA: sheri.beaulieu@aquaculture.ca

OTTAWA, ON: Canada’s commitment to developing a Blue Economy strategy means many things: it’s an opportunity to revitalize our rural and coastal communities; to enhance our dedication to sustainability, research and science; and to capture the potential of the world’s longest coastline and unmatched freshwater resources. But it also creates opportunities for real Canadians working in the seafood industry, so we asked them: “What does the Blue Economy mean to you?”

The Fisheries Council of Canada and the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance have created a video series to highlight the benefits of the Blue Economy from 10 Canadian voices from the seafood industry. The series showcases how Canadians hope the Blue Economy can grow communities, improve sustainability and create long-term economic stability.

“Capturing Canada’s seafood opportunity through the Blue Economy has significant benefits for the 90,000 Canadians working in the seafood industry, including youth and Indigenous communities,” said Paul Lansbergen, President, FCC. “But more than that, it will also act as a driver for a ripple effect of change as Canada reclaims its heritage as a water nation.”

FCC and CAIA have created a vision and action plan, Canada’s Blue Economy Strategy 2040, to position Canada as a global top three best producer of sustainable seafood by 2040. This plan will capture Canada’s seafood opportunity through the Blue Economy and help realize the dreams presented in the video series.

“Creating a sustainable, ocean-driven economy is possible,” said Timothy Kennedy, President & CEO, CAIA, “and it starts with the Canadian seafood industry.”

Learn more about Canada’s seafood opportunity and watch the video series at seafoodopportunity.ca.

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The Fisheries Council of Canada (FCC) is the voice of Canada’s wild capture fish and seafood industry, promoting a healthy resource and prosperous industry playing a vital role in the Canadian economy. Our members include small, medium and larger-sized companies along with Indigenous enterprises that harvest and process fish from Canada's three oceans.

Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) is the national association that speaks for Canada’s seafood farmers, representing their interests in Ottawa and internationally. CAIA members generate over $5.2 billion in economic activity, $2.1 billion in GDP, and employ over 21,300 Canadians delivering a healthy, growing and sustainable seafood farming sector in Canada.

For more information or to set up an interview please contact:

Kelly McCarthy, Manager, Communications, FCC: kmccarthy@fisheriescouncil.org

Sheri Beaulieu, Marketing & Communications Manager, CAIA: sheri.beaulieu@aquaculture.ca

Click here to download the letter to the Prime Minister

Dear Prime Minister:

This letter follows our letters of January 28, 2021, regarding the potential of Canadian aquaculture to contribute to low-carbon economy recovery, and February 10, 2021, regarding the role of innovation and technology in our sector. This letter outlines the key role that aquaculture can play in post-COVID jobs recovery.

There are perhaps no other sectors in Canada that have the capacity to simultaneously drive good paying job creation, provide domestic food security, support meaningful indigenous reconciliation and realize sustainable food production, as the seafood farming sector can. Canada’s farmed seafood sector is young and has been recognized by economic experts, including under your own Economic Tables, led by Dominic Barton, as having tremendous potential for sustainable growth. Global demand for our products is very strong, and our sustainable growth opportunity is almost limitless. Canadian aquaculture can make an important contribution to Canada’s efforts to “build back better” as part of our national COVID-19 recovery strategy.

And yet our biggest challenge is that the Canadian government has not championed or embraced this opportunity, instead leaving the sector in a morass of confusing departmental accountabilities and regulatory complexity. As a result, since 2002 production in Canada’s aquaculture has stagnated, with an average annual growth rate of about 1% from 2002 to 2019. Other nations, recognizing the opportunity, have moved quickly ahead. Over the same time period our share of world aquaculture production has fallen by 54%.

In 2019, aquaculture generated $5.2 billion in total economic activity across the Canadian economy, $2.1 billion in GDP, and over 21,300 full-time jobs for Canadians. Already over 250 Indigenous communities across Canada (AFN data) are engaged in aquaculture development and many other communities have the bio-physical capacity and interest to support farmed seafood development. The potential for future growth in the sector is strong, as noted in numerous reports produced under your government:

“The central message of this report is that there is an ocean of opportunities for aquaculture in Canada. Our country has the world’s longest marine coastline, the largest number of freshwater lakes, a diversified aquaculture industry, a rigorous regulatory regime and world-class aquaculture-related research. Canada is, therefore, well positioned to help supply the growing global demand for fish and seafood and to do so sustainably – environmentally, economically and socially. The Committee supports the goal of doubling Canadian aquaculture production within the next decade.”

(Senate Report on Aquaculture: “An Ocean of Opportunities,” 2016)

“What would Canadian leadership in global food production look like?...Increase global market share (for aquaculture) to 0.6% (from 0.2%) and exports by almost US $2.6B. Do so by adopting…an economic development strategy that reforms ill-adapted traditional fisheries regulations for this emerging subsector to create opportunities for provincial, regional and aboriginal stakeholders…”

(Advisory Council on Economic Growth “Barton Report”, Feb 2017, pp.10,12)

“Achieving our growth targets hinges on all sectors meeting their full potential. Right now this is not always the case. A key example is the Canadian aquaculture sector, which has the potential to nearly double production from 200,565 tonnes in 2016 to 381,900 tonnes in 2028 to meet rising demand. However, there are significant barriers to achieving this growth: • There is not a strong economic development focus for this sector within the federal government • Licensing requirements do not facilitate long-term growth strategies…”

(Agri-Food Economic Report from Canada's Economic Strategy Tables: The Innovation and Competitiveness Imperative, 2018)

“The largest potential (carbon reduction) gains for food production lie in the sustainable expansion of marine aquaculture.”

(Expert Paper for the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, 2019)

Recent studies have shown that the farm-raised salmon sector is poised to deliver on the promise of significant growth, with plans to invest more than $1.4 billion in BC over the next 30 years to increase production by 85,000 tonnes (95%), and more than $800 million in Atlantic Canada, which would grow production in that region by some by 65,000 tonnes (128%). These investments would eventually generate an additional $4.9 billion in economic output per year, $1.86 billion in additional GDP per year, and more than 19,800 new jobs, mainly in rural and remote coastal communities across Canada.

Unfortunately, Minister Jordan’s recent decision on the Discovery Islands will close more than 24% of BC’s farmed salmon production, resulting in the loss of more than 1,500 jobs across BC and requiring the destruction of more than 10 million fish. The decision has also forced BC salmon farming companies to put future investment plans on hold.

Despite this major setback, we believe your government still has the opportunity to get back on track and support smart development of our sector as a key part of Canada’s COVID recovery strategy. We ask you to identify a champion department, and for this department to develop a plan for the sustainable growth of the sector.

We ask for your government’s support in enabling our sector to help Canada build back better.

Sincerely,

Timothy J. Kennedy

President & CEO

Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance

CC:

Hon. Bernadette Jordan, PC, MP, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

Hon. Chrystia Freeland, PC, MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance

Hon. Dominic LeBlanc, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs

Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson, PC, MP, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada

Hon. Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages

Hon. François-Philippe Champagne, PC, MP, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

Hon. Marie Claude Bibeau, PC, MP, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Hon. Carolyn Bennett, PC, MP, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations

Hon. Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade

Hon. Carla Qualtrough, PC, MP, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion

Other Key Federal Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries engaged with the Blue Economy Strategy

Premiers and Lead Ministers for NL, NS, NB, PEI, QC, ON, BC

Mr. Erin O’Toole, PC, MP, Leader of the Official Opposition

Mr. Richard Bragdon, MP, Critic to the Minister of Fisheries & Oceans

Mr. Pierre Poilievre, MP, Critic to the Minister of Finance

Mr. Jagmeet Singh, Leader of the New Democratic Party

Click here to download the letter to the Prime Minister

Dear Prime Minister:

On December 2, 2020, you and the other 13 world leaders of the High Level Panel (HLP) for a Sustainable Ocean Economy committed to 100 percent sustainable ocean management by 2025. To support this commitment, the High Level Panel commissioned a blue paper on “The Future of Food from the Sea”. This paper determined that “the ocean could provide over six times more food than it does today.” It further stated that meeting the ocean’s production potential will require the sustainable expansion of both finfish and shellfish aquaculture.

Given this priority role envisioned for aquaculture, we would like to assure you that the Canadian aquaculture industry is well prepared to support the High Level Panel’s goal to sustainably increase marine-based food production. Throughout its history, Canadian aquaculture has followed an orderly transition toward enhanced productive efficiency and greater environmental stewardship through the ongoing implementation of the most recent cutting-edge technologies and innovations.

However, continued investment in innovation by our sector can only take place if there is sound decision making and certainty for future growth of the industry in Canada. Minister Jordan’s recent decision to close salmon farms in the Discovery Islands will reduce revenues in the Canadian aquaculture sector by more than 16 percent. This has had an immediate chilling effect on investments in technology and innovation.

Canadian Salmon Aquaculture

Through their focus on clean technology and innovation, Canadian salmon farms have become integrated, technologically sophisticated production systems strategically designed, operated and maintained to ensure sustainability. Today’s Canadian salmon farms utilize:

• Stronger ocean net pens: Ocean pens are now constructed from steel or high-density polyethylene—and the nets are manufactured from modern polymers. The strength and durability of these innovations have significantly reduced fish escapes in recent years. Machine learning applications combined with underwater drone technology will soon allow ongoing real-time monitoring, cleaning, and repair of nets to further ensure net integrity.

• High resolution genetic selection: Analysis of the full Atlantic salmon genome now allows the use of high-resolution genomic tools for the selection of breeding stock with superior growth, quality, and disease resistance.

• Innovation in vaccines development: Vaccines have now been developed against many of the common bacterial and viral pathogens, and vaccination processes have been transitioning from manual to fully automated, making vaccinations safer, faster, and more accurate. Vaccination of all juvenile Canadian farmed salmon before transfer to the marine environment significantly reduces the potential of disease transfer to wild stocks. As the world is learning about the advances in mRNA vaccine technology and its role in fast development of COVID treatments, salmon farmers on the west coast have been using a DNA plasmid vaccine for more than 13 years.

• Stringent disease testing and on-farm health management: Ongoing disease testing prior to transfer to the marine environment ensures that only disease-free juvenile Canadian farmed salmon enter the ocean. Salmon farmers are also integrating underwater cameras into machine-learning applications that will allow the health status of tens of thousands of individual fish to be monitored on a daily basis, facilitating the detection and treatment of early-stage infections.

• Environmental monitoring: Salmon farm companies collect the most extensive data base set of Phytoplankton along with Environmental “real time” data sets. Machine learning and A.I. are now utilizing these data points to conduct predictive ocean trends. This becomes very useful as more data is required to understand the level of climate change and the potential impacts.

• Automated feeding systems: Canadian salmon farms already use automated feeding systems and underwater video camera monitoring - and are integrating machine learning software - to ensure that the amount of feed delivered to a pen does not exceed the appetite of the fish. This limits the buildup of waste feed on the ocean floor, supporting a healthy marine ecosystem. These systems also capture lice counts, health, biomass and inventory.

• Novel feed ingredients: A significant amount of protein and oil used in salmon feeds now comes from alternative plant and animal sources, utilizing what would be waste from the commercial fishing industry (e.g., skin, bones, organs from processing) and plant-based proteins and oils developed in Canada (e.g. camelina, by-product utilization, insect meal, etc.). Increased usage of alternative sources supports the sustainability of wild fish stocks by reducing reliance on protein and oil sourced from wild-caught fish for the specific purpose of making farmed salmon feed.

• Sea lice prevention and treatment strategies: A full suite of innovative non-chemotherapeutic sea lice prevention strategies and treatment options has been developed to keep sea lice levels below the threshold levels specified by Fisheries and Oceans Canada and we are seeing many companies starting to invest in alternate treatment technology such as mechanical delousers.

• Advanced monitoring of sea floor: Canadian salmon farmers are currently validating environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding as a powerful new tool to complement existing sea floor monitoring technologies. The eDNA test will be the most sensitive and accurate way to ensure that farms are not permanently impacting marine species living on the sea floor near salmon farms.

• Wastewater treatment innovations: Processing facilities are now equipped with innovative wastewater treatment technologies—including UV and chlorine treatment—that support the health of the marine environment and minimize the potential of disease transfer to wild fish stocks.

• Advanced ship technology: Aquaculture designs and utilizes some of the world’s most advanced ships to support treatments, live hauling, mooring construction and harvesting. These vessels are employing and recruiting the highest educated mariners along with supporting the coasts supporting ship builders and maintenance ship yards.

While the industry’s high standard of environmental responsibility has already been recognized by multiple independent, global environmental certification systems, Canadian salmon farmers continue to transition toward technologies and innovations that will reduce their impact on the environment even further. New technologies and innovations are being tested at both the hatchery and the grow-out phases of the farmed salmon production cycle. For example:

• Hybrid production systems: New land-based recirculating aquaculture systems are being constructed that will allow juvenile farmed salmon to be grown to larger, more robust sizes before transferring them to ocean-based grow-out systems. This ‘hybrid’ production strategy will significantly lower the length of time that farmed salmon spend in the ocean, further reducing any environmental impacts.

• Ocean-based semi-closed containment (SCC) systems: Several SCC systems are currently being piloted in Canada. SCC systems are equipped with technological and/or physical barriers that inhibit other fish species, sea lice, and pathogens from leaving or entering the pen during the ocean grow-out phase. Some designs also have the potential to extract waste particles from the discharge water as that technology becomes commercially available.

• Fully-closed containment (CC) systems: Canadian salmon farmers are currently investigating the potential of marine-based CC systems.

Canadian Shellfish Aquaculture

Canadian shellfish aquaculturists are also implementing innovations and new technologies that will improve production efficiencies and enhance environmental sustainability, including:

• Surface floating bag oyster production systems: These new systems will:

  • Reduce plastic usage by improving the longevity and retention of production equipment.

  • Improve oyster survival rate.

  • Increase production capacity by allowing higher density oyster culture.

  • Reduce marine mammal interactions.

• Enhanced cold chain management: State-of-the-art systems of remote wireless sensors are allowing the Canadian shellfish industry to digitally log temperature data throughout the storage and transportation of shellfish.

Overall, Canadian seafood farmers are world leaders in:

• achieving global science-based standards for traceability, food safety, animal welfare, social responsibility, and environmental performance, exceeding all regulatory requirements;

• reductions in plastics usage in finfish and shellfish cultivation;

• usage of fish meal and fish oil in feed (less than 30% of farmed seafood diets are of marine origin now and from certified sustainable fisheries).

These are Canadian farmed seafood innovations that contribute to fisheries conservation, habitat protection, reduction in GHG emissions, and demonstrate our sector’s leadership in growing the Canada’s Blue Economy.

Given aquaculture’s tremendous capacity and environmental sustainability, the Canadian aquaculture industry is committed to working with you to support the ocean action agenda of the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy and to realize the full potential of Canada’s Blue Economy Strategy. As noted earlier, continued investment in innovation by our sector can only take place if there is sound decision making and certainty for future growth of the industry in Canada.

To realize this opportunity, our sector once again asks you to formally identify a federal department to champion our sustainable growth, and for this department to develop a plan and sustainable growth strategy. We ask for your government’s support on these key issues that are major blocks for our sector’s further development.

Sincerely,

Timothy J. Kennedy

President & CEO

Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance

CC:

Hon. Bernadette Jordan, PC, MP, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

Hon. Chrystia Freeland, PC, MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance

Hon. Dominic LeBlanc, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs

Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson, PC, MP, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada

Hon. Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages

Hon. François-Philippe Champagne, PC, MP, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

Hon. Marie Claude Bibeau, PC, MP, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Hon. Carolyn Bennett, PC, MP, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations

Hon. Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade

Other Key Federal Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries engaged with the Blue Economy Strategy

Premiers and Lead Ministers for NL, NS, NB, PEI, QC, ON, BC

Mr. Erin O’Toole, PC, MP, Leader of the Official Opposition

Mr. Richard Bragdon, MP, Critic to the Minister of Fisheries & Oceans

Mr. Pierre Poilievre, MP, Critic to the Minister of Finance

Mr. Jagmeet Singh, Leader of the New Democratic Party

Industry’s Blue Economy Strategy 2040 Includes Vision and Action Plan

OTTAWA, ON: The Fisheries Council of Canada (FCC) and the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) are pleased to see the launch of the federal government’s Canadian Blue Economy Strategy consultations. The Engagement Paper, launched today, shows nearly 90,000 jobs and $9 Billion in GDP contribution for the seafood industry for Canadians - more than any other ocean-based sector. The seafood sector can grow substantially in both jobs and value to help drive COVID recovery and help Canada become a global leader in the sustainable oceans economy.

FCC and CAIA, representing Canada’s national wild and farmed seafood sectors respectively, have created a joint vision and action plan to capture the blue economy opportunity and position Canada as a global top three best producer of sustainable fish and seafood by the year 2040. Canada’s Blue Economy Strategy 2040 includes three sustainable growth targets and six points of action to help Canada reach its blue economy goals.

“Canadians have been building their lives around our three oceans for hundreds of years, with the seafood industry being a cornerstone of our nation’s history,” said Paul Lansbergen, President, FCC. “We’re ready to establish Canada’s leadership in the global blue economy, with the seafood industry leading the way.”

The Canadian seafood industry shares the sentiment expressed in the Blue Economy Strategy engagement paper that Canada should be a leader in the global blue economy. With the longest coastline in the world, it only makes sense that Canada should modernize our ocean sectors in a sustainable way, consciously create more jobs in our coastal and Indigenous communities, and focus on science, technology and research to advance both the economic return and stewardship of our oceans.

“The potential of Canada's fish and seafood industry for long-term, sustainable job-creation will be paramount for Canada's COVID-19 recovery and for Blue Economy development," said Timothy Kennedy, CAIA President & CEO. "Canada has yet to seize its seafood opportunity and this strategy development is a chance to frame and realize Canada’s outstanding Blue Economy promise.” 

As Canada shapes its blue economy strategy, the seafood industry is ready to lead with a continued commitment to sustainably capturing the potential of our oceans as we have done for hundreds of years. A rising tide lifts all boats.

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The Fisheries Council of Canada (FCC) is the voice of Canada’s wild capture fish and seafood industry, promoting a healthy resource and prosperous industry playing a vital role in the Canadian economy. Our members include small, medium and larger-sized companies along with Indigenous enterprises that harvest and process fish from Canada's three oceans.

 Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) is the national association that speaks for Canada’s seafood farmers, representing their interests in Ottawa and internationally. CAIA members generate over $6 billion in economic activity, $2.45 billion in GDP, and employ over 25,000 Canadians delivering a healthy, growing and sustainable seafood farming sector in Canada.

For more information or to set up an interview please contact:

Kelly McCarthy, Manager, Communications, FCC

Sheri Beaulieu, Marketing & Communications Manager, CAIA